Prison Group Comes Out Tops at GRD Competition

Bulawayo - A drama group from Khami prison were crowned joint winners of the Bulawayo quarter-final round of the 2020 Geraldine Roche Drama competition held at Nkulumane Hall last Friday.

Khami School of Arts (KAS) gave a crowd-pleasing performance which encompassed both breath taking drama techniques, and a well-crafted story telling which clearly charmed the judges as both they, and Ablaze Drama Group, were able to garner the highest scores of the day to become joint winners of the round.

Speaking to ZDDT news after the triumph, Vincent Karanda, who is a member of KAS, said he was over the moon about the victory.

"I don’t even know what to say. I am extremely happy that the hours spent in rehearsal have paid off and am grateful for GRD for accommodating us in the competition” said Karanda.

Assistant Principal Correctional Officer, Blessing Chinomona, who is in-charge of the prison groups, said drama was an excellent tool in the rehabilitation of prisoners and entering this competition was also contributing to the correction of offenders.

Khami prison is blessed with another group, Votsho Votsho, that has also managed to progress to the semi-finals and will do battle with seven other groups who will be vying for the three available spots in the finals for Bulawayo groups.

Votsho Votsho director Surprise Ndlovu, who is due for release from prison this week, noted that drama, and this competition, had given him a skill and a talent that he could use even upon his release.

“I felt really good performing and competing with people from the outside world. It made me feel that people understood me better and I still also have a place in the society” added Ndlovu.

GRD Programmes Coordinator, Khaliphile Sibanda, showing her delight, noted that the competition, and all the programmes that the organisation is undertaking, are aimed at giving everyone who has talent a platform to find their voice and to hone their craft hence GRD is very pleased with the prisoners’ participation.

The Bulawayo semi-finals will be held at the Academy of Music on the 21st of February where the top 3 groups will meet others from Matabeleland North and South in the finals scheduled for the 7th of April at the Bulawayo Theatre.

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